The Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos represented Greece to the informal meeting of the EU Defence Ministers, which took place in Milan.
In his proposal, Mr. Avramopoulos pointed out the timeliness and necessity for policies in the field of defence in light of continuous turbulence, instability and developments. He referred to the arc of instability running the area from Ukraine to Tunisia, being a source of constant danger for security and stability in the broader region.
He also underlined the need for enhanced cooperation in the fields of intelligence exchange and cyberdefence, as well as in the utilisation of all technological capabilities.
The Minister of National Defence particularly referred to the so-called hybrid warfare which demands calculated and complete answers, and he also pointed out the need for preparedness against phenomena of obscurantism and fierceness, advocated by the activity of the so-called Islamic state; an activity that insults fundamental values of human rights and creates humanitarian crises and waves of desperate immigrants.
Special reference was also made to the European Defence Industry, as a prerequisite for a strong EU security policy, as well as to the need to set off SMEs and enhance theEuropean Defence Agency, whose activity he complimented.
Finally, Mr. Avramopoulos expressed the wish and certainty that the Italian Presidency, which carries on the Greek Presidency’s progress in the field of maritime security – among others – will respond to the exigencies of our times and will be very successful.